Scituate-04
Scituate, Herring River
42.171536, -70.750239
Technical Specifications
Basic Properties
- Type
- Flap Gate
- Material
- Metal
- Control
- —
- Condition
- Good
- Geometry
- Circular
- Status
- Active
- Number of Gates
- 1
Operator & Management
- Operator Type
- PUBLIC
- Operator
- Town of Scituate
- Permits
- Unknown
- Purpose
- Flood Protection
Dimensions & Elevations
- Dimensions
- 1.25ft diameter
- Invert Elevation
- -0.08 NAVD88
- Installation Date
- 1992
- Tidal Influence
- —
Culvert Details
- Restriction Type
- Berm
- Geometry
- Circular
- Material
- Concrete
- Bottom Material
- —
- Number of Pipes
- 1
- Dimensions
- 1ft diameter
- Condition
- Good
- Comments
- Debris grate observed on upstream end of culvert; was rusty but appeared to be in good condition. Erosion observed around downstream headwall. Resident indicated that berm periodically overtops during flood tide at low point near Cushing Road.
Restoration Potential
Assessment
- Salt Marsh Impairment due to Tidal Restriction
- Moderate
- Potential Extent of Marsh Restoration
- Moderate
- Implementation Feasibility
- High
- Restoration Priority
- High
- Recommended Improvement Type
- O&M and Infrastructure
Notes
Site shows moderate salt marsh impairment due to restricted tidal flow. Replacement with self-regulating tide gate could restore approximately 5-8 acres of degraded marsh habitat. Good access for construction equipment. Regional coordination completed with town DPW and conservation commission.Historical Records
Environmental Data
- Invasive Species
- Yes
- Restoration Status
- Not Applicable
- Invasive Comments
- Upstream impoundment was predominately comprised of phragmites. Appeared that there was little to no tidal influence.
- Restoration Comments
- Would potentially be a good restoration candidate - minimal low lying infrastructure was observed; however, upstream area is used by the town as a drinking water well field.
- Upstream Area
- Salt Marsh: >20 acres
Notes & Comments
- General Comments
- The site is easily accessible by walking south along a grassed berm at the end of Cushing Road for approximately 500 feet.
- Operation Plan
- No
- Operation Comments
- —
- Gate Comments
- Circular metal hinged flap gate was operable and appeared to be in good condition. Resident indicated that it was rebuilt shortly after the storm of 1991.
- Elevation Comments
- Extent of existing downstream tidal influence unable to be assessed; staining mark appeared to extend above top of headwall. Extent of existing upstream tidal influence unable to be assessed; hinged gate did not appear to allow any upstream tidal influence. The approximate invert elevation was assessed. The below lists measuredowns taken with a surveyors rod and corresponding top of headwall LiDAR elevations (NAVD88 datum). 1) TG Inv (D/S tide gate): Top of HW El (D/S) = 2.92’; Inv Measuredown = 3.00’; TG Inv = 3.00’ – 2.92 = -0.08’
- Visit Comments
- —
- Other Comments
- Area on the upstream side is now part of the town’s drinking water wellfields
- External Data Comments
- —
Part of the Massachusetts Bays Program© 2026 Massachusetts Bays Program. Monitoring tidegates across Massachusetts.